Book Review: Ditch the Sugar Coating by Nidhi Jain Seth
Recognition is not the dessert. It’s the main course that fuels high-performing teams.
- Print length – 236 pages
- Publisher – Positively Perfect Publishing
- First Published – July, 2025
Why Recognition Matters
“People only ever work for two things: money and recognition.”
That’s the line from Nidhi Jain Seth’s debut book Ditch the Sugar Coating. Simple, direct, and it immediately makes you stop and think. Isn’t that what we all want at the end of the day? To be fairly rewarded and to feel truly seen.
Nidhi’s book is about recognition – not as an HR initiative or a tick-box program, but as the lifeblood of human connection. Recognition is not the side dish you serve when everything else is done. It’s the main course that fuels people, teams, and relationships.
Recognition Beyond the Workplace
When I picked up the book, I expected stories about workplace appreciation, but it went deeper than that. Recognition, as Nidhi explains, is not limited to offices or formal awards. It shows up in our families, in our communities, in our friendships.
The part on self-recognition stayed with me. Nidhi writes, “When you finish something challenging, and sit quietly with a small smile, feeling proud of how far you’ve come, that’s recognition, too. Internal, quiet, but essential. No one else may know. No one else may ever say anything. But we know. And that knowing… it means everything.”
Reading this, I had one of those pause-and-highlight moments. I realized how often I brush past my own small wins, waiting for external validation. This reminded me that recognizing ourselves is just as important as being recognized by others.
Why Many Recognition Programs Fail
The book doesn’t sugarcoat what recognition is and isn’t. Nidhi points out why many recognition programs fail – because they confuse vouchers, gifts or trophies with genuine acknowledgment. She breaks down tricky questions like:
- Is “Employee of the Month” actually motivating, or does it create hidden competition?
- Do gift vouchers really recognize someone, or are they just another transaction?
- How do you appreciate blue-collar workers who may not resonate with the same recognition formats as white-collar teams?
What I loved is how practical the book is. It isn’t filled with theories or corporate jargon. Instead, Nidhi draws from her 25 years of experience helping companies design recognition that sticks. Her advice is simple: Recognition should feel personal, thoughtful, and consistent.
About Nidhi and Pinnacle
I also need to say this – knowing Nidhi in person makes the book even more powerful. She’s part of my BNI chapter, and I’ve seen her in action. In a room of 90+ people, her cheerful “Good Morning” stands out. She’s always the first to clap, always the first to cheer someone on. You can sense her energy from across the room. And it’s genuine, that’s the best part.
Reading her book, I felt like I was hearing her voice in the pages. She doesn’t just write about recognition; she lives it.
For those who don’t know, Nidhi is the founder of Pinnacle, a women-led design and manufacturing company that has shipped more than 3 million custom awards worldwide. What began as a small mother-daughter project in 2000 has grown into a company of 110+ people that leaders trust to design recognition gifts people actually treasure.
Why You Should Read Ditch the Sugar Coating
If you are running a business or are leading a team, this book is for you. Because recognition is about noticing people, calling out their effort, making them feel seen. As Ankur Warikoo wrote in his praise for the book: “Behind every high-performing team lies a simple truth: people want to be seen, valued, and remembered.”
And I couldn’t agree more.
For me, Ditch the Sugar Coating is not just a book about leadership or HR. It’s a reminder that recognition is human, it is universal.
Book: 297
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